BlueAir 403

BlueAir 403 Review Summary

The Good:
Just like any other Blueair air cleaners, the 403 comes with an energy efficient HEPA Silent filter and a quiet motor.

The Bad:
You need to change the filter every 6 months.

The Bottomline:
The Blueair 403 still maintains the efficient and energy saving filter used by it’s bigger siblings. But with only 1 filter and negligible amount of carbon in it means that it will not help much with odor or smoke problem.

What we like about the Blueair 403.

The filter: BlueAir 403 uses the HEPASilent air purification system like any other machines made by the company.

It works like this. Before dirty air is sucked through the filter, the machine uses ion brushes to charge if first. So, while air purifiers made by other companies force the air through their filters, this one makes the charged contaminants attracted to the filter.

And because the dirty particle willingly cling to the filter, the HEPASilent can have larger holes than a normal HEPA. As a result, you get a quiet and efficient cleaning machine.

Filter is easy to change: The unit is designed so that you can change the filter without using a screwdriver or any other tools.

Practical: The unit is made of galvanized steel and can be moved around using it’s built-in carry handle. There’s also a timer that counts down from 6 months to remind you when to change the filter. And because it so quiet, there’s a blue power on light to let you know if it’s on operation.

Uses little electricity: It only consumes 30 Watt on low and 70 Watt on high speed.

It’s silent: Because the filter has better airflow than a HEPA filter, the Blueair 403 is one of the quietest machine in it’s class. Suitable for your bedroom or study area.

Our Concern :

• The Price: It only covers a relatively small area but the cost is similar to machines that cover twice the area.
  
• The filter cost: At around $120 a year for 1 filter, it is one of the most expensive replacement filter in it’s class.
  
• Warranty : You need to change your filter every 6 months or the 10 years warranty will be void.
• No carbon : Because it lacks a specialized carbon filter, it won’t handle smoke, gases or odor well.
• No pre-filter : Most air cleaners come with pre-filter to stop bigger airborne particles from entering the main filter. But this one lacks one. We suggest you vacuum your filter to help it lasts longer.
• Movability: Yes, there is a carry handle but at 33lbs, castors are better.
• Not automatic: There’s only manual dial to adjust the 3 fan speeds. There’s no automatic sensor to adjust the speed according to the pollution level. At this price, we expect to find one.
  

Allerair 4000 Vocarb

Allerair 4000 Vocarb Review Summary

The Good:
With a very thick carbon filter, this machine is well-equipped to reduce smoke or odor problem.

The Bad:
The design is outdated and the control is manual.

The Bottomline:
If you don’t care about noise, style and ease of use – but need a powerful machine that could help reduce odor, smoke and harmful gases, consider this one. But if you need a balance between the two, look for a Rabbit Air or Alen Corp machine instead.

What we like about the AllerAir 4000 Vocarb

The filters: At a glance, it is just like any other AllerAir air purifier. It has a vacuumable pre-filter, anti-microbial filter, a thick 12 lbs carbon filter and a high grade medical HEPA filter.

But the difference is in the carbon filter. It is a boosted blend, designed to aggressively combat odor, smoke and gases. AllerAir says this unit is best used for newly renovated homes or places with heavy smoke or volatile organic compounds.

360 degrees air intake: The cylindrical shape maximizes airflow through the machine.

Made of Steel: To make sure it is suitable for those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), this machine is made of steel so that it doesn’t react with the air. Most machines in the market are made of plastic.

Long Filter Life: While the pre-filter needs to be changed every 3 months, the Hepa and the carbon lasts 2 to 5 years depending on the level of pollution and how frequent you use the machine.

Extra protection: If you need a machine to control airborne fungus, ask for the AllerAir 4000 with UV protection. And if the vocarb blend is not strong enough, the company also offers a custom carbon blend.

But We are concerned that :

• It’s Quite Loud: The lowest setting is 35dB. If you’re a light sleeper you definitely won’t enjoy having this machine in your bedroom.
  
• Has only 3 fan speeds: You only have the option of  low, fast and turbo.
  
• Heavy : At around 42 lbs, with the help of it’s wheels you may be able to push it around. But forget about lifting it up the stairs if you have back problem or over 50.
  
• Has no digital display: Like Austin Air machines, the control is old-fashioned.
  
• Has no digital features: Because it is not a digitally controlled machine, there’s no remote control, timer or filter replacement alert. You need to remind yourself to change your filter ( which is troublesome, since you need to replace each filter at different time ).
• Looks outdated : Your guests might wonder why you keep a humming log in your home.

Allerair 4000 Exec

Allerair 4000 Exec Review Summary

The Good: Has 4 powerful filters – including a thick 12 lbs carbon to effectively filter odor, smoke and harmful gases.

The Bad: Has only 3 fan speeds and no digital display. Quite loud and looks outdated.

The Bottomline:
This HEPA air purifier doesn’t come with all the convenience of modern air purifiers – things like auto timers, remote control or filter replacement alert, but the performance is so strong, some people simply don’t care. If you don’t mind having an ugly but very powerful machine to clean your air, consider the Exec 4000.

More Details on the AllerAir 4000 Exec

The filters: AllerAir 4000 Exec is an all rounder air purifier with 4 filters :-

• Prefilter – traps large particles, quick to change.
• HEPA – laser tested, medical grade, traps 99.97% of particles (as small as 0.3 microns)
• 2 anti-microbial filters.
• Carbon – 18 lbs. of activated carbon.

And they lasts these long :-

• Prefilter: 3 months
• HEPA: 5-7 years
• Carbon: 2-5 years

360 degrees air intake: Allerair claims their cylindrical shape maximizes airflow through the machine.

Made of steel: True to the company’s aim to make sure its’ machines are suitable for those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), this machine is made of steel so that it doesn’t react with the air and is sturdy.

Long filter Life: While the pre-filter needs to be changed every 3 months, the Hepa and the carbon lasts 2 to 5 years depending on the level of pollution and how frequent you use the machine.

Has extra protection: If you need a machine to control airborne fungus, ask for the AllerAir 4000 with UV protection. The ultraviolet light should help sterilize airborne organisms. The company also offers a custom carbon blend if you need one.

Long warranty: It comes with a limited 10 years warranty.

But we are concerned about the:

• Noise: The lowest setting is 35dB, which is loud if you want to use it for your bedroom.
  
• 3 fan speeds: You only have the option of  low, fast and turbo.
  
• Weight : At around 42 lbs, with the help of its’ wheels you may be able to push it around. But forget about lifting it up the stairs if you have back problem or over 50.
  
• No digital display: Like Austin Air machines, the control is old-fashioned.
  
• So, no digital features: Because it is not a digitally controlled machine, there’s no remote control, timer or filter replacement alert. You need to remind yourself to change your filter ( which is troublesome, since you need to replace each filter at different time ).
• The outdated look : Your guests might wonder why you keep a humming log in your home.

Baby's Breath Review

The Baby’s Breath air purifier is essentially the same as Austin Air Allergy Jr. air purifier. It has the same steel casing and filters. In fact, the price is also $300.

The only difference is the color and the name.

More Details on the Baby’s Breath Machine

Because it is an Allergy Machine Jr. in color, we’ll repeat what we have said about the Allergy Machines here.

The filters: The first stage filters things you can see like hair, dust and dander. The second stage filters unseen particles like molds, spores and pollens.  The last 2 stages use a Hepa filter and a military carbon cloth to take care of  bacteria and viruses as well as any airborne chemicals and gases.

360 degrees air intake: While most air purifiers only sucks the air from the front or the side, this air cleaner sucks air from all direction like any other Austin Air’s machines.

Made of Steel: Austin Baby’s Breath is encased in steel and the surface is scratch resistant.

Money Back Guarantee & Warranty: This air purifier comes with 5 years warranty on parts and filter. It also comes with 30 days money back guarantee.

Long Filter Life: While most air purifiers need a fresh filter every 6-12 months, Austin recommends that you replace your filter only once every 5 years.

Our Concern :

• Only 3 fan speeds: As there are only 3 speeds available, you don’t have much options when it comes to the noise level. But the lowest setting is quiet.
  
• No digital display: We don’t know why, but Austin Air seems to like analog controls.
  
• And no digital features: Without digital function means there are no remote control, timer or filter replacement alert. You need to remind yourself to change your filter ( every 5 years ).
• The outdated look : Compare Austin machines with other modern air purifiers and you’ll know what we mean.
• Filter stays too long: For things meant to trap dust and other airborne particles, we think 5 years is just too long (if you use it daily). We suggest you vacuum the filter regularly and replace it earlier than the suggested 5 years.

Our Verdict :

We don’t deny that Austin machines have withstood the test of time. However, unless the company changes it’s design and functionality, Austin Air may have trouble competing in the crowded field in the near future.

For us, it feels as if Austin is just getting lazier. Instead of adding new features to make this machine truly different, the company puts on the same filters it puts on the Allergy Machine, color the casing differently, and then market it as an nursery-safe air purifier for your babies.

Yes, it’s a good machine.  But it still comes with the same rehashed design and function.

Air Allergy Jr. Review
This mini version of Austin Air Allergy Machine is a simple air purifier.

Specifically tailored for those who are allergic not only to dust but also to gases and smoke, it comes in a metal casing for long lasting durability.

More Details on the Air Allergy Jr. Machine

While the other Austin machines use a carbon filter at the third stage, the Air Allergy Jr uses a Hepa filter instead. After the stage, an activated military carbon cloth is used to clear harmful gases or smoke.

And because this cloth replaces a heavy carbon filter, this machine is 6 lbs lighter than the other Austin Air’s junior air purifiers.

The filters: The first stage filters things you can see like hair, dust and dander. The second stage filters unseen particles like molds, spores and pollens.  The last 2 stages use a  Hepa filter and a military carbon cloth to take care of  bacteria and viruses as well as any airborne chemicals and gases.

360 degrees air intake: While most air purifiers only sucks the air from the front or the side, this air cleaner sucks air from all direction like any other Austin Air’s machines.

Made of Steel: Austin Air Allergy Jr. is encased in steel and the surface is scratch resistant.

Money Back Guarantee & Warranty: This air purifier comes with 5 years warranty on parts and filter. It also comes with 30 days money back guarantee.

Long Filter Life: While most air purifiers need a fresh filter every 6-12 months, Austin recommends that you replace your filter only once every 5 years.

Our Concern :

• Only 3 fan speeds: As there are only 3 speeds available, you don’t have much options when it comes to the noise level. But the lowest setting is quiet.
  
• No digital display: We don’t know why, but Austin Air seems to like analog controls.
  
• And no digital features: Without digital function means there are no remote control, timer or filter replacement alert. You need to remind yourself to change your filter ( every 5 years ).
• The outdated look : Compare Austin machines with other modern air purifiers and you’ll know what we mean.
• Filter stays too long: For things meant to trap dust and other airborne particles, we think 5 years is just too long (if you use it daily). We suggest you vacuum the filter regularly and replace it earlier than the suggested 5 years.

Our Verdict :

We don’t deny that Austin machines have withstood the test of time. However, unless the company changes it’s design and functionality, Austin Air may have trouble competing in the crowded field in the near future.

For us, the Air Allergy Jr. is a good machine. But it comes with design and function of  the 80s.

Healthmate JR. Review

The Healthmate Junior is essentially a Healthmate – but it is smaller, covers less area and is $150 cheaper. It’s also lighter and so, more portable than the 45 pound Healthmate.

It also comes with the same, high standard medical grade filters.

However, it does not have all the features of modern air cleaners – things like automatic speed adjustment, digital display, filter replacement alert or a timer.

What does it do ?

The filters: The first stage filters things you can see like hair, dust and dander. The second stage filters unseen particles like molds, spores and pollens.  The last 2 stages use the activated carbon (impregnated with Zeolite) and a 30 sq ft Hepa filter to take care of gases and smokes as well as bacteria and viruses.

360 degrees air intake: Like other Austin Air machines, this purifier sucks air from all direction.

Steel Construction: Austin Healthmate Jr.  is also made from steel like any other Austin Air air cleaners.

Money Back Guarantee & Warranty: The machine comes with 5 years warranty on parts and filter. Austin corporate website also says that it comes with 30 days money back guarantee.

Long Filter Life: While most air purifiers need a fresh filter every 6-12 months, Austin says this one only needs to be replaced every 5 years.

Our Concern :

• The sound level: As there are only 3 speeds available, you’ll notice that the sound will vary considerably from one level to another. The lowest setting is quiet though.
  
• No digital display: We don’t know why, but Austin Air seems to like analog controls.
  
• And no digital features: Without digital function means there are no remote control, timer or filter replacement alert. You need to remind yourself to change your filter ( every 5 years ).
• Filter stays too long: For things meant to trap dust and other airborne particles, we think 5 years is just too long (if you use it daily). We suggest you vacuum the filter regularly and replace it earlier than the suggested 5 years.

Our Verdict :

Another basic machine from Austin Air. If you just need an air purifier with good filters and do not care about digital features  and other convenience offered by more modern air purifiers, this might be it.

But we suggest you replace your filter earlier than suggested by company.

Healthmate+ Jr. Review

Austin Air Healthmate+ Junior is like a mini sports car with a very powerful engine. Unfortunately, like a racing car, it is meant to deliver performance, not comfort.

So, while the filter is good, it does not have all must-have features of modern air cleaners – things like automatic speed adjustment, digital display, filter replacement alert or a timer.

But the filter is good and the casings are made of steel.

What does it do ?

The Healthmate Plus Junior is supposed to be a mini version of the Healthmate Plus. And as expected, it is $200 cheaper and covers an area half as big.

The filters: The first stage filters things you can see like hair, dust and dander. The second stage filters unseen particles like molds, spores and pollens.  The last 2 stages use the activated carbon (impregnated with Potassium Iodide) and Hepa filter to take care of gases and smokes as well as bacteria and viruses.

360 degrees air intake: Like other Austin Air machines, this purifier sucks air from all direction.

Steel Construction: Austin Healthmate Plus Jr. is encased in steel and the surface is scratch resistant.

Money Back Guarantee & Warranty: The machine comes with 5 years warranty on parts and filter.

Long Filter Life: While most air purifiers need a fresh filter every 6-12 months, Austin says this one only needs to be replaced every 5 years.

Our Concern :

• The weight: At 18 Ibs, it is still quite heavy. Not suitable to be lifted up and down the stair.
• The sound level: As there are only 3 speeds available, you’ll notice that the sound will vary considerably from one level to another.
  
• No digital display: Many air cleaners around this price have easy to read digital control.
  
• Lack various digital features: Without digital function means there are no remote control, timer or filter replacement alert. You need to use your calender to remind you to change your filter ( every 5 years ).
• Filter stays too long: For things meant to trap dust and other airborne particles, we think 5 years is just too long (if you use it daily). We suggest you vacuum the filter every 6 months or replace it earlier than the suggested 5 years.

Our Verdict :

At this price, the Austin Healthmate Plus Jr. is quite attractive. But like we said before, while the core function is good, lack of comfort and convinience make this machine seems like it was built during the 80s.

If you like dials and hate all things digital and automatic try this one. But please replace your filter earlier than suggested by Austin Air.